WO1999054239A1

WO1999054239A1 - Conveyor chain

Info

Publication number: WO1999054239A1
Application number: PCT/EP1999/002357
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dieter Specht
Original assignee: Interroll Holding Ag
Priority date: 1998-04-17
Filing date: 1999-04-07
Publication date: 1999-10-28
Also published as: US6634491B1; EP1084070B1; JP2002512163A; EP1084070A1; DE59902669D1; DE19817125A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a conveyor chain (1) with a plurality of main links (2) which are moveably interconnected by connecting links (4). A first end of a first main link (2) forms a first joint (6) with a first end of a connecting link (4) in the longitudinal direction of the chain. Said joint (6) allows a pivoting movement about an axis (A), essentially at a right angle to the longitudinal direction of the chain and essentially parallel to the chain surface. The second end of the connecting link (4) forms a second joint (8) with the second end of the next main link (2). The second joint allows a pivoting movement about an axis (B), perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the chain and the pivoting axis (A) of the first joint (8). The two axes (A, B) are situated in different planes when seen in the longitudinal direction of the chain.

Description

"Transport chain"

description

The invention relates to a transport chain for conveying objects.

Transport chains are known which are used in industry for conveying various types of objects. Such transport chains consist of numerous chain links, which generally have a flat surface on which the objects to be conveyed can be placed. Frequently, at least two transport chains running parallel to one another are used in order to be able to transport even larger objects which then rest on both chains. The individual chain links are movably connected to one another in order to make swiveling movements in two mutually perpendicular directions

Enable directions. On the one hand, the chain links must be able to move towards each other in the transport plane in order to also allow the transport route to run in curves, and on the other hand the chain links must be able to move perpendicular to the transport plane to one another in order to enable the chain links to return below the conveyor plane. In the known transport chains, this connection, which is movable about two axes, is formed between the chain links by a kind of universal joint, i.e. the two swivel axes intersect at one point. This articulated connection is constructed in such a way that the individual chain links are connected to one another by means of horizontal swivel axes or parallel swivel axes which allow a swivel movement perpendicular to the transport plane. These pivot axes are each fixed in a first chain link, while they extend in the adjacent second chain link through elongated holes, which not only allow a rotational movement of the two chain links to each other about this axis, but also additional freedom of movement in the axis

Give direction of the transport level, which enables a pivoting movement of the chain links within the transport level. So there is only a real one Pivot axis, the pivot movement about the second pivot axis, which is not actually present, is only achieved by a play in the mounting of the first axis in one of the two adjoining chain links. Because of this construction, the known transport chains have only limited mobility. Furthermore, dirt can easily accumulate in the side elongated holes through which the swivel axes are guided, which further limits the mobility and thus the function of the transport chain. The low mobility of the known transport chains additionally requires a large amount of play in the lateral guidance in order to enable a course in curves.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved transport chain that enables greater mobility.

This object is achieved by the features specified in claim 1.

Preferred embodiments result from the subclaims.

The transport chain according to the invention has two separate hinges for the two required pivoting movements between the individual chain links, which are connected to one another via corresponding connecting links.

This decoupling of the two swivel axes allows greater freedom of movement of the chain links about the respective axis. Furthermore, it is possible to dispense with the extremely elongated, oblong holes, which are known from the prior art, which increases the reliability of the function of the transport chain. In the transport chain according to the invention, the mobility of the chain links to one another is no longer limited, as in the known transport chains, by the construction of the joints themselves, but only by any stops which result from the shape of the upper and lower sides of the main links.

The connecting links are advantageously almost completely covered on their upper and lower sides by at least one of the adjacent main links. This has the advantage that an almost complete forms a common, smooth surface, which is only interrupted by a narrow gap between the individual main links. This enables a large footprint for the goods to be transported and the hinges between the individual chain links are protected from dirt or mechanical damage by the cover. The cover of the connecting links on their underside enables an almost continuous, smooth contact surface of the transport chain, which improves the sliding properties of the chain in a guide.

A connecting member is preferably covered by the main member adjoining the second hinge on its upper and / or lower side up to the region of the first hinge. With such a configuration, the mobility of the two main links parallel to the chain surface is hardly restricted despite the almost complete covering of the connecting link. The mobility between the main links perpendicular to the chain surface or to the transport plane is hardly restricted, since the parting line between the upper and lower sides of the two adjacent main links lies in the area of the second hinge. This provides optimal protection for the two hinges without significantly restricting the mobility of the transport chain.

All main links and all connecting links are preferably of identical design. This enables a cost-effective construction of the transport chain, since it only consists of two different components, the main and the connecting links.

The main links preferably have recesses on their undersides, into which a chain wheel can engage. These recesses on the underside can be designed independently of the remaining shape of the chain link so that a particularly favorable contact between the chain wheel and the main links is made possible. This will make it more reliable and safer

Drive of the transport chain enables, even large forces can be reliably transmitted, so that even heavier goods can be transported on the transport chain. The main links further preferably have lateral guide grooves running in the longitudinal direction of the chain. These guide grooves allow the transport chain to be guided securely in a corresponding guide profile. The guide grooves are expediently designed such that the upper side of the guide profile is covered by the upper flanks of the guide groove, in particular also in curves. This prevents dirt or parts of the goods to be conveyed from getting caught or caught between the transport chain and the guide profile. The transport chain, together with the guide profile, forms a smooth, almost closed surface that prevents foreign objects from entering the guideway and thus preventing any malfunction. Furthermore, it can be achieved by the formation of such a guide groove that the main members rest with the upper flank of the guide groove and with their underside on the guide profile, whereby an increased load-bearing capacity can be achieved.

Preferably, at least one of the two hinges consists of several comb-like projections on the main link and corresponding comb-like projections on the connecting link, which engage in the spaces between the projections on the main link, a continuous hinge pin extending through the projections of the main link and the connecting link. This design of the hinges ensures that the hinge pin is mounted several times both on the connecting member and on the main member, thereby ensuring the reliable transmission of larger forces. Furthermore, the power transmission is extremely smooth due to the multiple mounting of the hinge pin.

The hinge pins are preferably held in the hinges by snap connections. This enables simple assembly of the transport chain, since the hinge bolts only have to be inserted into the corresponding openings in the hinges and lock securely in them. No further fastening elements and fastening processes are therefore required.

The hinge pin is further preferably made of plastic. So is one 5

Corrosion of the hinge pin excluded, which would restrict the mobility of the hinge. Furthermore, a hinge pin, in particular a hinge pin, which has latching connections, is extremely inexpensive and easy to manufacture from plastic.

The main links and / or the connecting links are preferably each made in one piece, preferably made of plastic. The one-piece design of the individual links reduces the number of assembly activities required and thus enables the transport chain to be assembled more quickly and cost-effectively. Furthermore, due to the reduced number of parts

Reduced the number of possible errors, thereby increasing the reliability of the transport chain. The main and connecting links are particularly easy and inexpensive to manufacture from plastic and, in addition, the use of plastic eliminates possible corrosion of the transport chain which impairs functionality.

The invention is described below by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a top view of the transport chain, FIG. 2 shows a sectional side view of the transport chain,

Figure 3 (a) - (e): the main link in different views, Figure 4: the connecting link in different views and

5 shows a cross section of the chain support profile when used with the transport chain according to the invention, FIG. 6: a cross section of the chain support profile when used with a

Transport belt, Figure 7: a cross section of the chain support profile when used with a

Roller chain, Figure 8 (a) + (b): different views of a roller chain.

FIG. 1 shows a top view of a transport chain 1 according to the invention. In this embodiment, only one transport chain 1, which is deflected in a U-shape, is shown. Nevertheless, two or more can be used in preferred arrangements Transport chains 1 run parallel to each other in order to be able to transport larger objects. The transport chain 1 consists of a plurality of main links 2, which are connected to one another by connecting links 4, shown in broken lines. The connection is designed such that the connecting members 4 are largely covered by the main members 2. The connection between the main links 2 and the connecting links 4 is designed to be movable by a first hinge 6 and a second hinge 8, the pivot axes A, B of the two hinges 6, 8 being essentially perpendicular to one another. The pivot axis A of the hinge 6 extends substantially perpendicular to the chain longitudinal direction and parallel to

Surface of the transport chain 1, so that a bending movement between the chain links 2, 4 in the chain longitudinal direction perpendicular to the chain surface is possible. The pivot axis B of the hinge 8 extends substantially perpendicular to the surface of the transport chain 1 and enables the chain to pivot in the conveying plane.

The main links 2 are configured on their upper side in the form of a cover plate 10, which largely covers the hinges 6, 8 and the connecting links 4. This results in an almost continuous, smooth surface of the transport chain 1, which has few gaps into which dirt can penetrate.

As a result, the hinges 6, 8 are arranged protected, so that their great mobility is also ensured in the long term. Furthermore, the chain support profile 1 2, which carries and guides the transport chain 1, is also indicated in FIG. In this top view it can be seen that the transport chain 1 according to the invention can also pass very tight curve radii, in particular the hinge 8 offers great freedom of movement, which is limited less by the hinge 8 itself than by the abutting parts of the main links 2.

FIG. 2 shows a sectional side view of the transport chain 1 according to the invention. In particular, the guidance and the drive of the transport chain 1 is shown here. The transport chain 1 is guided in a chain support profile 1 2 and deflected by a chain wheel 14 and driven by the same. For this purpose, the main members 2 have recesses 1 6 on their underside, into which Teeth 1 8 of the chain wheel 1 4 can engage. The sprocket 14 can be fastened to a shaft by means of a hub 20, which here has an essentially square cross section, in order to be driven via this. In the forward 22, the transport chain is guided on the top of the support profile 1 2 and then deflected via the sprocket 1 4. The return 24 of the transport chain 1 takes place parallel to the forward 22 of the transport chain 1, below the forward 22 in the interior of the chain support profile 1 2. Because the return 24 takes place inside the chain support profile 1 2, the transport chain 1 is protected from damage or contamination . Furthermore, the number of exposed, moving parts is reduced, thereby minimizing the risk of injury to persons handling the area around the transport chain 1. It can also be seen in FIG. 2 that the hinges 6 enable the main links 2 to move in two directions with respect to one another. Thus, the transport chain 1 can be bent in two directions by the pivoting movement around the hinges 6. First, the transport chain 1 is bent downward over the chain wheel 14, in order to then be bent in the opposite direction after the chain wheel 14 has been wrapped around it. This allows that despite a large sprocket 1 4, which allows a cheap power transmission, the forward 22 and the return 24 of the transport chain 1 in a common chain support profile 1 2, can be extremely close together. An extremely compact and space-saving arrangement of the transport chain 1 is thus achieved. The upper sides of the main links 2 are designed as cover plates 10, which form an almost continuous surface of the transport chain 1. The extremely narrow gaps 26 between the individual main members 2 on the upper side are advantageously formed obliquely, so that the hinges 6, 8 from the cover plates 10

Main links 2 are almost completely covered. The narrow gaps 26 limit the freedom of movement of the hinges 6 in a vertical direction, i.e. in the direction perpendicular to the transport plane, but only a slight freedom of movement is required in this vertical pivoting direction, since this mobility is only great for the return 24, in which, as shown, a great deal

Radius of curvature is possible is needed. Furthermore, a slight freedom of movement in this direction is required for the case in which the transport chain 1 is to overcome gradients. The bottom of the main limbs too 2 are designed in the form of cover plates 28, which have the engagement openings 1 6 for the teeth 1 8 of the chain wheel 14 and larger gaps 30 between the individual main links 2, which allow the hinges 6 to move more freely in a downward pivoting direction. It is thereby achieved that a chain wheel 14, which serves as a drive or deflection wheel, can be formed with a smaller radius. The larger gaps 30 on the underside of the transport chain 1 are less disruptive, since they run protected inside the chain support profile 1 2 and the risk of dirt getting in is low. The connecting members 4 are essentially completely between the cover plates 10 and 28 on the top and bottom of the

Main links 2. In addition to the position protected from dirt or mechanical damage, this enables a large supporting surface between the main and connecting links, as a result of which the transport chain 1 has a high load-bearing capacity.

Figure 3 shows a main link 2 in different views. A top view of the main part 2 is shown in FIG. 3 on the right. The main part 2 is almost completely covered by the cover plate 10. This forms a large wing on which the loads to be conveyed have a secure footing. The middle piece 32 of the main link 2, shown here in dashed lines, is almost completely covered by the cover plate 10 and is set back from the side edges of the cover plate 10, as a result of which lateral guide grooves 34 are formed, in which the chain support profile 12 can engage. The main link-side parts of the hinges 6 and 8 are formed on the middle piece 32. In the top view it can be seen that the hinge 6 consists of several comb-like

There are projections 35, in the spaces between which the corresponding, likewise comb-like counterparts of the connecting member 4 can engage. This ensures a high load-bearing capacity and even power transmission through the hinge 6. The hinge 8 is set back inwards with respect to the front edge 36 of the main link 2, which enables the intermediate link 4 to be almost completely covered by the cover plate 10 in the assembled state of the transport chain 1. In the sectional side view of the main member 2 it can be seen that the hinge 8th is designed like a comb, this hinge 8 also ensures a high load-bearing capacity and uniform force application. The lower cover plate 28 extends in the direction of the front edge 36 of the main member 2 beyond the hinge 8, so that together with the upper cover plate 1 0 a receiving space 37 is created for the intermediate member 4. Through the comb-like projections of the parts of the hinges 6 and 8 on the main link side, bores 38 and 40 extend into which hinge bolts 39, 41 can be inserted. The bore 40 of the hinge 8 is not continuous, but is covered on its upper side by the cover plate 10, which prevents dirt from penetrating into the hinge from the top of the chain. The hinge bores 38 and 40 furthermore have latching devices 42 and 44 in which the hinge bolts 39, 41 can be latched. This enables simple assembly since any screwing of the hinges 6, 8 is omitted and the hinges 6, 8 can be assembled by simply plugging them together. A top view of the underside of a main link 2 is shown on the left in FIG. The middle part 32 of the main member 2 is almost completely covered by the lower cover plate 28. The lower cover plate 28, like the upper cover plate 10, projects laterally beyond the central part 32, as a result of which the guide groove 34 described above is formed together with the upper cover plate 10. Approximately in the middle of the

Middle part 32 is located in the underside of the engagement opening 1 6, in which a tooth 1 8 of a chain wheel 1 4 can engage. The lower cover plate 28 has, in particular in the longitudinal direction, a smaller extent than the upper cover plate 10, as a result of which greater flexibility is achieved when the transport chain 1 bends downward about the pivot axes A.

FIG. 4 shows different views of the connecting element 4. The connecting element 4 has the parts of the hinges 6 and 8 on the connecting element side at its two longitudinal ends. These parts are also comb-shaped so that they can engage in the corresponding spaces between the main link-side parts of the hinges 6, 8. Hinge bores 48 and 50 extend through the two hinge parts, through which hinge bolts 39, 41 extend, which pass through hinge bores 38 and 40 on main member 2 WO 99/54239 - | Q PCT / EP99 / 02357

extending, in the assembled state of the hinge 6, 8 also extend. The middle part 46 of the connecting member 4 has cutouts which serve only to save material and thus also to reduce weight. The two longitudinal ends of the connecting member 4 are rounded according to the pivoting direction of the hinges 6 and 8 by a large one

To allow freedom of movement. Advantageously, the connecting link 4 has a smaller width than the central part 32 of the main link 2, which ensures in the transport chain 1 that the guide takes place essentially through the smooth side edges of the central part 32 of the main link 2 in the guide grooves 34.

The cross section shown in FIG. 5 shows a chain support profile 1 2 with the transport chain 1 according to the invention. On its upper side, the chain support profile 1 2 guides the transport chain 1 in the run 22. In the lower region of the chain support profile 1 2, the transport chain 1 is guided in its return 24 in a closed cavity 52. When guiding the feed 22 of the transport chain 1, the chain support profile 1 2 engages with corresponding projections 54 in the guide grooves 34 of the main links 2 of the transport chain 1. Slide rails 56 are attached to the projections 24, which allow the transport chain 1 to slide as easily as possible on the chain support profile 1 2. These slide rails 56 are advantageously made of plastic, which has highly sliding properties. This can be a polyamide, for example. In the cavity 52 for the return 24 of the transport chain 1 2 further projections 58 are attached to the chain support profile 1. These projections 58, like the projections 54, also carry slide rails on the upper side of the chain support profile 1 2

60. These slide rails 60 are advantageously of identical design to the slide rails 56 which are used on the upper side of the chain support profile 1 2. This enables a reduction in the number of parts required. The projections 58 with the slide rail 60 also engage in the guide grooves 34 of the main links 2 of the transport chain 1. However, the main links 2 of the transport chain 1 rest in their return 24 with the lower cover plates 28 on the slide rails 60, while in the outflow 22 the transport chain 1 is carried by the upper cover plates 10 of the main links 2. The cover plate 1 0 protrudes beyond the projections 54 of the chain support profile 1 2, so that the chain support profile 1 2 is completed by the cover plate 10 upwards, thereby preventing dirt from entering the interior of the chain support profile and in particular into the hinges of the transport chain 1. The cover plates 10 preferably extend beyond the projections 54 to such an extent that complete coverage of the gap which is formed is ensured even in a curve. In addition, a guide rail 62 is attached to the support profile 1 2 shown here. This guide rail 62 is essentially at right angles to the surface of the transport chain 1 and extends parallel to the chain longitudinal direction along the transport path. In this

Guide member 62, a sliding body 64 is used, which ensures lateral guidance of an object to be transported on the transport chain 1.

The chain support profile 1 2 shown here is advantageously designed so that the use of this chain support profile 1 2 is not limited to the conveyor chain 1 according to the invention, but rather also enables the use of a conveyor belt or a roller chain.

FIG. 6 shows the use of the chain support profile 1 2 in connection with a transport belt 66. Here, a support body 68 is inserted between the projections 54, on which the slide rails 56 are otherwise mounted for guiding the transport chain 1. This support body 68 is preferably made of plastic or aluminum and is designed such that it can be clipped into the space between the projections 54 with snap connections. The guide body 68 has a corresponding guide profile 69 that the

Transport belt 66 leads. The guide profile 69 consists of two opposing profile strips which extend in the longitudinal direction of the chain support profile 1 2 and which form an intermediate space which is T-shaped in cross section. In the lower area, a slide film 71 is inserted in the longitudinal direction into the guide profile 69 such that it is encompassed in its edge area by the guide profile 69 or the two profile strips. The sliding film 71 thus lies in the region of the transverse leg of the T-shaped cross section of the guide profile 69 and extends in the longitudinal direction of the chain supporting profile 12 on the support body 68. The slide film 71 consists of a highly sliding plastic, for example low-pressure polyethylene, and forms a highly sliding surface on which the carrying belt 66 runs. In earlier times, in order to create a highly sliding tread for a transport belt, the entire support body 68 with corresponding belt guides was made from a correspondingly highly sliding one

Milled plastic, because such plastics, such as low-pressure polyethylene, cannot be processed or can only be processed with difficulty by extrusion. The new arrangement has the advantage that the cost-intensive machining can be dispensed with, in that the support body 68 with the incorporated guide profile 69 can be made, for example, from an easily extrudable plastic or as an aluminum extruded profile. Then only a slide film 71 is inserted into the guide profile 69 in order to form a highly sliding running surface for the transport belt 66. The guide profile 69 has edges above the slide film 71, which extend essentially perpendicular to the slide film 71 in the longitudinal direction of the chain support profile 1 2 and serve as a lateral boundary of the running surface for the transport belt 66. In this way, a guide for the transport belt 66 is formed. In addition, the chain support profile 1 2 in the closed space 52 for the return of the transport belt 66 also has a corresponding guide profile 70, which the support belt 66 at its

Return leads. The guide profile 70 is configured essentially identically to the guide profile 69. However, it is not arranged on a separate support body, but rather is formed directly in the bottom region of the cavity 52. The guide profile 70 is thus formed directly in the chain support profile 1 2 produced by extrusion. As in the guide profile 69 is also in the

Guide profile 70 arranged in an identical manner, a slide film 73, which forms a highly sliding tread for the return of the conveyor belt 66. The slide film 73 advantageously has identical dimensions to the slide film 71 used in the outflow, as a result of which the number of different individual parts can be reduced to a minimum.

Figure 7 shows the use of the chain support profile 1 2 in connection with a roller chain 72. For this purpose, the chain support profile 1 2 has on its top below the Projections 54 a pair of further projections 74 on which the roller chain with its support members 78 is guided. Slide rails 76 are fastened on the projections 74, which advantageously have the same shape as the slide rails 56 and 58 when the transport chain 1 is used, as a result of which the required variety of parts is further reduced. The return of the roller chain 72 likewise takes place through the cavity 52 on the underside of the chain support profile 1 2, the roller bodies 86 rolling here on the closed bottom surface of the cavity 52. The roller chain is guided by its lateral support bodies 78 in connection with the side walls of the chain support profile 1 2. An additional guidance of the roller body 86 results from that on the

Bottom surface of the cavity 52 provided guide profile 70 for the shoulder strap 66.

Furthermore, the chain support profile 1 2 has fastening profiles or grooves 81 on its sides and on its underside. These fastening grooves 81 enclose a T-shaped cavity in which corresponding fastening screws or nuts can be used. The guide member 62 can, for example, be fastened in these fastening grooves 81. Furthermore, the chain support profile 12 can itself be fastened to corresponding supports or supports by means of these fastening grooves 81. The continuous guide grooves 82, which extend in the longitudinal direction of the chain support profile 1 2, also enable a variable fastening option for different attachments, such as different sensors or handling devices. In addition, the fastening grooves 81 can also be used for cable routing along the transport path.

In Figure 8, the roller chain 72 shown in Figure 7 is shown in more detail. The roller chain 72 is composed of a plurality of identical support links 78. The support members 78 are each composed of two side parts 80, 82, which extend in the chain longitudinal direction, a roller axis 84, which carries a roller body 86, extends essentially at right angles to the chain longitudinal direction and to the side parts 80, 82 between them. The roller shaft 84 is formed in one piece with the side part 82 and instructs their free end facing the side part 80 has latching hooks 88 which can snap into a correspondingly designed recess 89 on the side part 80. The side parts 80, 82 or the support members 78 are shaped such that they taper towards the end seen in the chain longitudinal direction, facing away from the roller axis 84, ie the side parts 80, 82 point in the direction transverse to

Chain longitudinal direction on a smaller distance from each other. At this tapered end of the support member 78, the side parts 80, 82 each have a through hole 90. These two through bores 90 lie opposite one another so that the roller axis 84 of the subsequent support member 78 can extend through them. The roller bodies 86 have dimensions such that they fit at the tapered end of the support member 78 between the two side parts 80, 82, which in turn fit between the side parts 80, 82 of the subsequent support member 78, so that its roller axis extends through the side parts 80, 82 and the roller body 86 of the preceding support member 78 extends.

Furthermore, connecting webs 92 are arranged between the side parts 80, 82, which cover the spaces between the individual rollers. The connecting webs are divided, in each case approximately one half of the connecting web being formed in one piece with a side part 80, 82. Centering pins or additional latching means and corresponding receptacles for connecting the two halves are arranged at the junction of the two halves of the connecting web 92.

The entire roller chain 72 is thus only composed of three different individual parts, the two side parts 80, 82 and the roller bodies 86, which considerably reduces the number of parts compared to conventional roller chains and thus also reduces the manufacturing, storage and assembly costs. All parts of the roller chain are advantageously made of plastic. On the one hand, this enables cost-effective production, for example by injection molding, and on the other hand a light, durable and corrosion-free roller chain 72. WO 99/54239 •] g PCT / EP99 / 02357

The month of the roller chain 72 can be carried out extremely simply and quickly by clipping the latching elements 88, without the need for additional tools.

Claims

16 Claims

1 . Transport chain (1) with a plurality of main links (2) which are movably connected to one another via connecting links (4), a first end of a first main link (2) in the chain longitudinal direction together with a first end of a connecting link (4) a first hinge ( 6), which enables a pivoting movement about an axis (A) substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the chain and essentially parallel to the chain surface, the second end of the connecting link (4) together with the second end of the following main link (2) forms a second hinge (8 ), which enables a pivoting movement about an axis (B) perpendicular to the chain longitudinal direction and to the pivot axis (A) of the first hinge (8), and the two axes (A, B), viewed in the chain longitudinal direction, are arranged in two different planes.

2. Transport chain (1) according to claim 1, wherein the connecting links (4) are almost completely covered on their upper and lower sides by at least one of the adjacent main links (2).

3. Transport chain (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which a connecting link (4) of the main link (2) adjoining the second hinge (6) on its top and / or bottom side into the region of the first hinge (8 ) is covered.

4. Transport chain (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which all main links (2) and all connecting links (4) are each identical. 17

5. Transport chain (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the main links (2) have on their undersides recesses (1 6), in which a sprocket (1 4) can engage.

6. Transport chain (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the main links (2) have lateral guide grooves (34) running in the chain longitudinal direction.

7. Transport chain (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which at least one of the two hinges (6, 8) from a plurality of comb-like

There are projections on the main link (2) and corresponding comb-like projections on the connecting link (4), which engage in the spaces between the projections on the main link (4), a continuous hinge pin passing through the projections of the main link (2) and the connecting link ( 4) extends.

8. Transport chain (1) according to claim 7, in which the hinge bolts (39, 41) are held by latching connections (42, 44) in the hinges (6, 8).

9. Transport chain (1) according to claim 7 or 8, in which the hinge bolts (39, 41) consist of plastic.

10. Transport chain (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the main links (2) and / or the connecting links (4) are each made in one piece, preferably made of plastic.